Shrub or tree splint and method of applying it



J. J. WILSON Aug. 19, 1958 SHRUB OR TREE SPLINT AND METHOD OF APPLYINGIT Filed Aug. 16, 1955 H TTORNE Y United States Patent 0.

SHRUB R TREE SPLINT AND METHOD OF APPLYING IT James J. Wilson, Seattle,Wash.

Application August 16,1955, Serial No. 528,694

2 Claims. (Cl. 47-58) This invention relates to a shrub or tree splintand method of applying it for use in shaping branches or small trunks oflive shrubs or trees.

The term branch as hereinafter used is intended to refer also to themain trunk or stem of a small tree or shrub.

An object of this invention is to provide a simple and efiicient splintwhich can be quickly and easily applied to a branch of a shrub or youngtree to change the alignment of the same, that is to either straightenit or put a permanent curvature in it.

Other objects of this invention are to provide a splint of this typewhich is light in weight, strong but slightly resilient, neat inappearance, not expensive to manufacture, easy to apply and adjust andnot liable to scar or injure a branch to which it is applied and onewhich is efficient in holding a branch to the desired alignment.

Another object is to provide a splint which is secured to a branch by apliable tie member so that the force tending to hold the branch in a newalignment is evenly applied to the branch and the tie member tends toresist turning of the splint on the branch.

Other objects of this invention will be apparent from the followingdescription taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings Figure l is a side elevation of a splint constructed inaccordance with this invention showing the same applied to a branch bymeans of a pliable lacing or tie member and with the branch heldsubstantially straight.

Fig. 2 is a side view similar to Fig. 1 but with a branch held undercurvature.

Fig. 3 is a detached longitudinal sectional view of this splint.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary elevation of an end portion of the same lookingin the direction of broken line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a cross section taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a cross section taken on line 6-6 of Fig. 3.

Like reference numerals designate like parts throughout the severalviews.

This splint comprises a tubular medial portion 10 of substantiallycylindrical cross section terminating in two similar end portions 11each of trough shaped or approximately semi-cylindrical cross section.Preferably the splint including medial portion 10 and terminal portions11 is formed of a single piece of plastic tubing split and expanded atthe two ends and bent into the shape of a bow longitudinally considered.The trough shaped end portions 11 terminate in outwardly curved tips 12which are adapted to engage with and press against a branch 13 withoutmarring or digging into the same.

In making the splint from a piece of plastic tubing preferably the tubeis first heated enough to soften it and .is then bent to the requiredcurvature and the end portions 11 opened out to approximatelysemicircular shape and the tip parts 12 outwardly bent to provide smoothcurved branch engaging surfaces. Usually each end portion of the tube issplit from the end back a distance equal to about one fourth of thelength of the tube. These splits may be made either before or after thetube is heated. The splits are on the side of the tube which facesinwardly toward the center about which the tube is curved when it isbent.. Thus the concave sides of the end portions 11 face toward andreceive the branch 13 to which the splint is applied. The tube is strongin proportion to its weight and size and it has some resilience.

In applying the splint to a branch 13 the two trough shaped ends 11 arefitted over and placed against the branch so that the part of the branchto be permanently straightened or curved lies between the curved endparts 12 of the splint. With the splint thus applied the branch 13 isheld in the position to which it is to be shaped and a pliable bindingmember 14 of fairly strong durable material, such as raffia, is woundtightly around the splint and branch and tied. When a pliable bindingmember 14 is thus applied said binding member has considerable frictionon both the branch 13 and the splint and if the branch is substantiallystraight the splint will not turn on said branch. If the branch 13 isbound so that it is curved toward the splint, as illustrated in Fig. 2,then obviously the splint will not tend to turn on said branch.

The splint shown in the drawings can be used to impart to a branch acurvature up to about forty-five degrees and it will be understood thatif more curvature is built into the splint then more curvature can beimparted to the branch to which it is bound.

This splint is useful in bontia culture in training plants to desiredshapes and in forming espaliers in which plants or shrubs or trees areflattened so that their branches spread out fan shape approximately in acommon plane.

The splint is left on the branch for as long: a period of time as isnecessary to permanently straighten or bend the branch to the desiredshape. This time may vary with different plants, shrubs and trees andmay vary in proportion to the extent or degree of the change made. Thebinder can be adjusted from time to time if necessary. Enough turns ofthe binder are used to provide a fairly evenly distributed applicationof force to the branch and to minimize scarring effect on the branch.The use of raflia as a binder is desirable because rafiia is durable andlong lasting and does not expand and contract greatly when subjected tomoisture changes and reduces the danger of scarring the branch to aminimum.

The foregoing description and accompanying drawings clearly disclose apreferred embodiment of this invention but it will be understood thatchanges is the same may be made within the scope of the followingclaims.

I claim:

1. A shrub and tree shaper comprising a tubular splint curved in theshape of a bow longitudinally considered and terminating in two integralend portions of approximately semi-circular cross section with theirconcave sides facing inwardly toward the center of the longitudinalcurvature of the splint, the extremities of the semicircularly shapedend portions of the splint being outwardly curved providing roundedbranch engaging parts, said concave end portions receiving therein andcontacting at spaced apart points a shrub or tree branch to which thesplint is applied; and a pliable binding member extending around thebranch and the splint when the splint is on a branch lacing the splintto the branch and applying evenly divided bending force at a pluralityof points to the portion of the branch between the two ends of thesplint, said pliable binding member frictionally engaging both thebranch and the splint at a plurality of locations in resisting relativeturning movement of the branch and splint.

the bow shaped splint to the branch with the end portions of the splintpressing against the branch at spaced apart locations; and lacing saidsplintto said branch with a pliable binding member laced to provide aplurality of spaced apart areas of contact of the pliable binding memberwith both the branch and the splintin applying evenly distributedbending force to the part of the branch between the two ends of thesplint, and providing frictional contact between the binding member andboth the splint and the branch preventing relative turning movement ofthe splint and the branch.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTSKittinger Oct. 3, Dalchow Nov. 8, Fisher May 7, Groothedde Aug. 18,Menne Sept. 27,

FOREIGN PATENTS Germany June 25, Germany Nov. 29,

